WOULD YOU MAKE A GOOD ROOMMATE?
If you have decided to live with someone else, the most
important thing to do is to take a good look at yourself as a
potential roommate. Set aside at least an hour of your time to
sit down with a piece of paper and a pencil and do some serious
introspection. Don't skip this part, it's really valuable.
List Your Assets.
Start with the good stuff and give yourself a pat on the back.
Make a list of all of the "pluses" you will bring to a roommate
relationship. Here are a few examples, but take time to think up
your own. Make sure you cover all three categories:
Personal: Sense of humor, ability to listen, non-smoker, morning
person, etc.
Technical: Knowledge of plumbing, phenomenal cook, etc.
Material: Stereo, car, living room furniture, etc.
List Your Faults.
Now that you know you're not such a bad person, consider what
"minuses" you will bring to a relationship. Be as honest as you
would want your roommate to be with you. (If you can't seem to
think of anything, you are kidding yourself). Again, here are a
few examples to start you thinking:
Personal: Moodiness, sloppiness, you think all Beethoven music
is just random noise, etc.
Technical: You can't change a light bulb, don't know a
carburetor from a radiator, etc.
Material: No furniture, cooking utensils, TV or stereo.
What Are Your Needs?
What do you want out of a roommate relationship, and what must
you have? For example, must you have your own room? Do you fall
apart if you don't sleep between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.? This
list is vital, so take your time.
Now Evaluate.
Take a good look at your lists and consider your priorities.
What is there about you or your lifestyle that is absolutely
crucial to you? If you have always been a slob/ smoker/ morning
person, whatever, don't kid yourself into thinking you can
change now. If you want to change, great! But don't decide to
live with someone who is allergic to smoke just to see if it
will make you quit. By the same token, decide what things you
might be willing to compromise on to suit your roommate's
tastes. Giving these matters some thought ahead of time will
make it a lot easier when you actually start interviewing
prospective roommate